Sheriff's Office

Chemistry Unit

Controlled Substances Section
seizeddrugs@washoecounty.us
 
Karyl Brown, Supervising Criminalist
Main Phone: (775) 328-2800
kbrown@washoecounty.us
 
Overview of Services

This section performs qualitative analyses of samples for the presence of controlled substances.  A wide variety of materials are encountered as samples including powders, liquids, vegetable and plant materials, paper, and items containing residue.  The most commonly encountered controlled substances are methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin.

     

Sample limits and testing protocols have been established and are employed in seized drug casework submissions as follows:

• Tests performed include qualitative analysis and identification of substances controlled under the Federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) or the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC).
  • Up to five different items can be submitted in a case.  For cases involving more than five items, contact the District Attorney handling the case and the Forensic Science Division prior to submission.
  • Evidence will be accepted in cases that are being actively prosecuted or in cases for which the testing results will be used at a Grand Jury, to substantiate charges that will be filed or are pending, to obtain a warrant, in an on-going investigation or for officer safety.
     
• Only selected items from those submitted will be analyzed.
  • Multiple items that are visually similar in appearance and packaging only will be tested when the total net weight could substantiate a trafficking charge. This analysis may be deferred until the case is set for District Court.
  • When multiple substances likely to contain a Schedule I compound are submitted, one of each type of substance will be analyzed.
  • When a Schedule I compound is identified, substances likely to contain a compound in a lower schedule will not be analyzed.
  • Items bearing or containing residue only and paraphernalia items only will be tested when no other controlled substance evidence exists, when other items do not contain a controlled substance, or at the special request of the District Attorney handling the case.

• A specific testing approach has been established for pharmaceutical preparations (tablets or capsules).
  • Only a visual examination with comparison to a database will be performed when a scheduled controlled substance (except marijuana) is identified in a non-pharmaceutical preparation.
  • Analysis and identification of a controlled substance in one dosage unit of the pharmaceutical preparation will be performed when no other controlled substance in a higher schedule exists in the case (except marijuana).
  • Only a visual examination will be performed for pharmaceutical preparations consistent with preparations containing a prescription only or over-the-counter compound.

If services beyond those listed above are needed, please contact the Forensic Science Division for consultation prior to submitting the evidence.

A few general comments bear mentioning.

• Services provided only include qualitative testing.  This type of testing identifies any controlled substances present in a sample.
• The services provided do not include quantitative testing.  This type of testing determines the amount of a compound in a sample and is usually expressed as a percentage.  This testing is not performed as it is not relevant based on the current language in the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC).
• The services provided do not attempt to identify any non-controlled substances such as cutting agents, excipients, over-the-counter compounds, or prescription only compounds.

Syringes/hypodermic devices are not analyzed unless extenuating circumstances exist and the analysis is approved by the Division Director or her designee prior to submission.

Any suspected marijuana that has visible signs of mold will not be analyzed as the mold associated with marijuana is a known carcinogen. If wet vegetable material is recovered, e.g., live plants, it is critical to completely dry the vegetable material prior to packaging it, even if it will be packaged in cardboard boxes or paper bags.

Limited analytical services are provided in clandestine laboratory cases.  The provided services include analysis and identification of precursors, such as ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, and controlled end-products, such as methamphetamine.  No analytical or testimonial services are provided for manufacturing methods, by-products, or other starting materials.  Prior to submitting any evidence from a clandestine laboratory, please contact the Forensic Science Division to discuss the case. Also, consultation with the District Attorney handling the case is an integral part of a clandestine laboratory case.

Very limited analytical services are provided in analysis of suspected steroids in seized drug cases.  The Forensic Science Division does not have reference materials for the numerous steroid compounds; thus, no identification of steroid compounds will be made.

The laboratory does not test paper currency for the presence of controlled substances.

Methods

The following examinations or tests may be employed in seized drug analyses:

• Macroscopic (i.e. visual) examinations
• Microscopic examinations
• Weight measurements
• Screening (i.e. presumptive) tests including color tests
• Microcrystalline tests
• Extraction, separation, and concentration techniques
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
• Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)
• Gas chromatography/infrared spectrometry (GC-IR)

    

Submission of Evidence

Packaging and submission of seized drug evidence should follow some general guidelines that are provided below.

• • The safest guiding principle for packaging seized drug evidence is to package the items such that the natural order and appearance is preserved for presentation in court. The way the evidence was packaged should not create confusion for the jury. Similar items from one location, such as several bindles from the same drawer or pocket, present less confusion packaged together. Items logically separated by space and time should be packaged separately to avoid confusion.

• • Clear plastic evidence bags are recommended for inner packaging as they allow the evidence to be viewed in court without opening the bag. When sealing evidence in these bags, allow sufficient room for opening for analysis and resealing after analysis.

• • Clearly mark all packaging with any hazard associated with the evidence, such as biohazard,when the evidence was recovered from a body cavity or from fecal matter.

• • Generally, syringes are not accepted.  For cases involving syringes, please empty the contents of the syringe into a vial and submit only the vial containing the liquid sample.

• • Non-controlled substance items should not be packaged with suspected controlled substances.  Examples of non-controlled substance items are clothing, identification cards, compact discs, and tools.  Pharmaceutical preparations, i.e., tablets and capsules that do not contain a controlled substance should be packaged separately as a non-controlled substance item. Even if these items were recovered with the suspected controlled substance, separate the items before submitting them to the Forensic Science Division and only submit the items relevant to the requested examination.

• • Items that do not require seized drug analysis should not be submitted or packaged with the evidence that will be analyzed.

• • Items that contain residue or are paraphernalia should be packaged separately from other seized drug evidence.  These items generally are not analyzed when other seized drug evidence exists.

• • Used field test kits should not be packaged with the suspected controlled substance. The Forensic Science Division does not use or need the used field test kit.  If your agency requires retention of the used field test kit, package it separately and do not submit it to the Forensic Science Division.

• • Each item or package of similar items should be given a unique identifier or number.

• • Each item contained in a package must be described in the listing of the package contents.

• • The gross weight, e.g., a weight that includes the substance and the packaging, of the seized drug item should be recorded and listed in the item description.  When seized drug evidence is packaged in glass containers, it is best to not include the glass container when making the weight measurement.

• • Vegetable or plant material must be thoroughly dried prior to packaging or the material may start to mold and rot. If the plant material is recovered wet, thoroughly air dry the material at room temperature prior to packaging and submitting.  Significant mold can form in five days or less on wet or damp plant material.  After drying, the plant material should be packaged in paper or cardboard to allow breathing and further drying of the material.

• • Roots, soil, and any other non-vegetative material should be removed prior to packaging plant materials.

• Liquid samples should be placed in glass jars or vials that have a Teflon lined, not paper lined, lid. Metal cans generally are not suitable as the primary container for liquid samples, because the cans rust which can result in leakage.